Boycott Pathaan: Ahmedabad mall vandalised as VHP, Bajrang Dal protest against Shah Rukh Khan’s film

Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone’s highly anticipated Pathaan is mired in controversies since the makers dropped the film’s song Besharam Rang.

On Wednesday, several members of right-wing pressure groups Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal on Wednesday generated chaos and vandalised a mall in Ahmedabad where they tore posters and other publicity articles related to the film as a mark of protest against the release Pathaan. The incident took place at the Alpha One Mall Vastrapur area, as per a report by news agency ANI.

For those who are not in the know, Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone’s film Pathaan is scheduled to release on January 25, 2023.

As per the same report following the incident on Wednesday, the Vastrapur police have detained five members and the same was confirmed by inspector J K Dangar. All five of the alleged culprits were released later.

A now-viral video was shared by VHP through their official Twitter handle. In the video, the activists can be seen screaming and shouting slogans, tearing posters apart and cut-outs of the film’s star cast comprising Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone.

Earlier, the Gujarat wing of the VHP had said that they will not allow the screening of the film anywhere in Gujarat, citing the reason that Deepika Padukone has worn a saffron bikini in Besharam Rang thereby hurting Hindu sentiments.

“We will not allow Pathaan’s screening in Gujarat. Today’s protest against the movie’s release in Ahmedabad should be taken as a warning by all the theatre owners across the state. They must stay away from releasing the movie in their theatres or multiplexes,” said Hitendrasinh Rajput, Gujarat VHP spokesperson, as per PTI.

Pooja Bhatt is one of the first Indian celebrities to react to the incident, saying, “Protest-An organised public demonstration of disapproval”(of some law,policy,idea,or state of affairs) Riot-A disturbance of the peace created by an assemblage of people acting with a common purpose & in a violent/tumultuous manner to the terror of the public.”

Another Twitter user wrote, “Dancing in a orange bikini gives Bhagwa a bad name. Creating ruckus and vandalising while wearing Bhagwa scarves, gives it a good name?” while a third one added, “The irony that it is these saffron wearing thugs and not the saffron wearing actress who are actually spoiling the name and reputation of Hinduism.”